More Botched PR by the Commercial Crew Crowd (Update)
NASA KSC Solicitation: Commercial Crew Integrated Capability
“NASA intends to begin a new initiative, the Commercial Crew integrated Capability (CCiCap), to facilitate industry’s development of an integrated CTS. This activity is expected to result in significant maturation of commercial CTS .”
Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) Pre-Proposal Conference
“A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on February 14, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. (EST). The conference will not be available via teleconference or webex.”
Keith’s note: First NASA quietly “announces” today’s event last Friday less than 4 days before the event (with a weekend in between) – and only in the Federal Register. No media advisory. Suddenly, Charlie Bolden is blogging about this. Then they toss out news of a workshop and they haven’t the inclination or the know-how to do a simple telephone dial-in or Webex for the rest of the U.S. (like they did today)? Its like these commericial folks just do not know what they are doing until the last minute – and then they would rather have as few people know what they are up to as possible.
Keith’s 8 Feb update: But wait, another part of NASA has figured out how to do what KSC does not know how – or does not care to try – to do. Indeed, this sounds far more complex than a simple telephone/webex hook-up to a procurement dog and pony show like KSC’s: NASA JSC Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program Integration Contract Virtual Industry Day: “NASA/JSC intends to conduct the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program Integration Contract (MPIC) Virtual Industry Day via WebEx on February 28, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Central Standard Time (CST).”
One More Step on the Commercial Path to Low Earth Orbit
“President Obama is working hard to create an American economy built to last, and NASA’s support of commercial innovation to reach low Earth orbit is helping to support these efforts by spurring new technological development and creating jobs and economic benefits for years to come.”
$300 million over 21 months might be enough for three SAA’s
I would like to see a lifting body and a capsule win,I challenge the winners in 2014 if possible to fly their demonstration missions together! this would engage the public with stunning imagery and prove close approach and maneuvering.
What happened at the briefing today? Is $300M the total for almost two years of work? Less than the money added to Constellation for one unmanned launch of the Orion on a Delta?
SpaceX with this can still meet their goal of crew launch in 2014.They would only have 6 months and it would be an optional milestone.NASA also says it could be ASAP if they want to.The awards are about all that can be spent,unless they go 24/7.Looks good.I wonder if there will be any new companies.
Imagine if they actually used Space Act Agreements for everything and where contractors would only get paid when they met milestones.
It isn’t even fair to speculate where we would be today and that is why NASA needs reform.Respectfully,
Andrew GasserTEA Party in Space
Keith,
Since you have the necessary technical savvy and experience (although probably not the time), perhaps you could propose a contract with NASA whereby you handle PR announcements, video streaming, etc. You could call it Watch NASA.
Steve
😉
There is no control spacecraft in this CC.There is no way to know if it is better.The only comparison is Ares 1-X test flight.All NASA spacecraft are built by contractors.Ares 1-X capsule was built by NASA.I would like to see them build a spacecraft to compare to commercial.Look how fast they built the Ares capsule.The cost would be low by using government workers.If they are available of course.NASA probably has enough material on hand to build one.Use surplus.Like Martin-Baker F-4 ejector seats,that I spent hours sitting on when I was in the AF.NASA needs a X project.They have had so many lately that they have not finished,maybe they could finish one by doing it themselves.This one would not have a huge contract to a aerospace company.All centers.With the SAA they can’t say what to do.With this they could put in some simple things they wanted to try.They built the abort system they tested at Wallops.The question of government not needing profit would lower costs.
I would like ejection seats and controllable parachutes.If humans can land on tippy toe,then a spacecraft could too.The safest system.The way the side of Dragon was burned,it might be better to use biconic.Like the front end of Shuttle.Crew seating is easier also the ejection seats.A cargo door could have solar cells.This way it is reusable. No throw away service section like F9.